The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-13
A SENSATION SPOILED.
A World Correspondents Story Proves
a Hoax.


a Hoax.
NEW YORK, December 9.--The World cor
respondent, at Halifax, sent the following to
that paper last night:
intense excitement prevails among imperial
military officers tonight over what appoars to
De deliberate attempt to blow up o gun cot
ton tank at Georges island. Double ouards
are patrolling the Notifications and orders have
been given to watch the wharves for men at
tempting to land, and TO search all vessels in
the harbor 1t has boon showing all night so
thaG IL IS Impossible to SEQ more than few
yards ahead. In tho center of Halifax harbor
stands Georges island 1t is one of the most
strongly fortified places in the world. 1t COM
mands the city and sweeps the entrance to the
harbor and northwest ARM it is sure dcstruc-
tIon to amy war ship attempting to enter Hal
max, beng armed with eighty and one hun
dred ton guns, and upon il is stored the largest
portion of the enormous supplies of torpedoes,
gun cotton, powder, shells, and other NUM-
lions of war; of which Halifax is depot for
North America. The island is about an acre
in extent. On its northeast shore is sunk n
large tank, in which several tons of gun cotton
are stored, enough to blow all Halifax to
pieces No one is allowed upon or in the vi
entity oil the island upon amy pretense, except
when on duty
In the midst Of the snow storm, at 10 o'clock
tonight, the daughter of the sergeant in charge
thought she heard men talking. She went to
the door OF her quarters, and standing upon the
gun cotton tank, she heard three men talking.
She called to them, but they took no notice of
her. Then she raised an alarm. Some SOL
diers were called out and rushed toward the
tank. The soldiers were some little distance
away, and hearing them coming, two of the
men Jumped into the boat, whereupon the
third shouted out :'ihf Hti q s}-71
Don't leave me in the lurch after doing
your dirty work"
He made a spring for the boat, got in. and
the boat got several yards from the shore be-
fore the soldiers reached the tank A moment
later the boat was hidden by the falling snow.
The soldiers being reused out of bed, did not
have their rifles with them, and consequently
could not capture the intruders.
An alarm was immediately raised, and tho
information conveyed to General Lord Alex
ander Russell and staff. General Russell
ordered all the whawes to be guarded, all veg
sells searched, and double guards on duty to
patrol the island all night Special guards
were also stationed at the gun cotton tank. 1t
is believed that the object of the men was to
bore an anger hole through tho cover and at
tach fuse. III this had been accomplished,
not only Georges island, with its magnificent
tortlhcatlons, but all ships in the harbor and
two-th1rd5 OF Halifax harbor, must have been
destroyed. 1t would have been the most tre-
mendous and terrible explosion of modern
times. while tho loss of life would have been
appalling.
HALIFAX, N. S., December 9.-MiIitary
authorities here say that the story circulated
here last night OF the attempt to explode O
gun cotton tank at Georges island was a hoax
1t is said that two men in boat in the harbor
last night, during thick snow storm, who
probably got out of their course ran close to
Georges island and were hailed bv n sentry
and warned to keep off This has probably
given rise to the report that an attempt had
been made to explode the gun COTTON tank